The One to Feature Innovative 'Sefar AG' Glazing System

New renderings of Toronto's tallest proposed building are continuing to reveal new—and evolving—design details of Mizrahi Developments' much-anticipated Foster + Partners-designed project, The One. An update at the beginning of this year saw the project—designed in collaboration with Toronto's Core Architects—grow to a new height of 340.6 metres, with a reworked exterior bringing greater aesthetic balance to the tower. Now, UrbanToronto has learned more about the proposed tower's cladding system, which will feature an innovative glazing system by Sefar AG.

The Swiss-based company produces high-performance architectural glass that allows for patterns and designs to be enmeshed directly within it. For The One, the laminated Sefar glass will be used to create the intricate honeycomb cladding pattern along the tower's podium. According to the company's website, the 'fabric&glass' system provides "improved thermal performance, reduces glare, and adds a unique depth in façade design by utilizing the three-dimensional effects of fabric."

Looking east along Bloor, with Sefar's honeycomb cladding system visible, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

Utilizing metal screens sandwiched between layers of glass, the system allows for a wealth of aesthetic options, as virtually any type of pattern and colour can be printed between the glass. Sefar glass' wide array of aesthetic configurations is clearly evidenced on The One, with both the glossy golden honeycomb pattern and the lighter, mesh-like elevator core set to utilize the unique glazing.

A closer look at the honeycomb glazing, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

Sefar's uniquely textured glass also lends the podium glazing a three-dimensional visual quality. The glazing itself will actually be installed on a flat plane, however, with the sense of depth created by the texture embedded in the glass. The element of textural nuance will be underscored by changing natural light, with the surface's visual appearance changing depending on how light is reflected from it.A closer look at the elevator core and podium cladding system, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

With variable colour, texture, and opacity, the system allows for glass to take on a multiplicity of aesthetic styles. The bird-friendly system maintains relatively unencumbered views from the interior while ensuring a sense of privacy with the panels appearing more opaque when viewed from a distance. A close-up look at one of the designs reveals the intricacy of patterns that can be created (below).

A closer-up of a Sefar glass product, image courtesy of Sefar AG

Meanwhile, a recently released interior rendering of a high-end restaurant space in the podium provides a glimpse into the tower's interior aesthetic, with the unique cladding system also seen along the windows. Seen up close from the interior, the Sefar glass is expected to appear nearly transparent.

An early look at a luxury restaurant space, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

To learn more about the 84-storey tower's design elements, our previous editorial provides an in-depth look at project's ongoing evolution and the latest design, while our dataBase file includes additional information and renderings.

Looking north on Yonge, The One now includes heritage preservation along the property's south end, image courtesy of Mizrahi

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